KIEV (Reuters) - Leaders of mainly Russian-speaking regions of eastern Ukraine that are loyal to President Viktor Yanukovich challenged the legitimacy of the national parliament on Saturday and said they were taking control of their territories.

The move appeared to increase the possibility of a split in the sprawling former Soviet republic of 46 million, despite denials by the leaders that this was their intention.

The Kiev parliament has passed a series of measures that would reduce the president's powers and pave the way to the formation of a national unity government and early presidential elections.

Mikhaylo Dobkin, Governor of Kharkiv region in northeast Ukraine, told regional leaders meeting in the city: "We're not preparing to break up the country. We want to preserve it."

But a resolution adopted at the meeting said: "The decisions taken by the Ukrainian parliament in such circumstances cause doubts about their ... legitimacy and legality."

It added: "The central state organs are paralyzed. Until the constitutional order and lawfulness are restored ... we have decided to take responsibility for safeguarding the constitutional order, legality, citizens' rights and their security on our territories."

One speaker urged the creation of civilian patrols to restore order. Another said those gathered should fear reprisals if anti-Yanukovich protesters in Kiev seize power in the whole of the country.

With people at the meeting chanting "Russia! Russia!", the atmosphere contrasted with the mood in the capital Kiev where protesters want the Moscow-backed Yanukovich to resign.

This is the Problem with the Ukraine. Half the country (Eastern half) are Ethnic Russians and speak Russian. the Western half is Ethnic European. I think the ultimate result of all this Chaos is either going to be a split of the Country or a brutal war will result in one half dominating the other (Most likely the Eastern half with Russian assistance).

The Western part of the country worked with the Nazis and has a history of pogroms against Poles, Belorussians and other minorities. The Eastern part of the country is more wealthy and less prone to violence.

This is the Problem with the Ukraine. Half the country (Eastern half) are Ethnic Russians and speak Russian. the Western half is Ethnic European. I think the ultimate result of all this Chaos is either going to be a split of the Country or a brutal war will result in one half dominating the other (Most likely the Eastern half with Russian assistance).

Not so. 5 out of 6 are ethnic Ukrainians.

Roughly speaking, about four out of every six people in Ukraine are ethnic Ukrainian and speak the Ukrainian language. Another one in six is ethnic Russian and speaks Russian. The last one-in-six is ethnic Ukrainian but speaks Russian. This map shows where each of those three major groups tend to live. (about five percent of Ukrainians are minorities who don't fit in any of those three categories.)

There is little difference between the “ethnic” Russians in he east and “ethnic” Ukrainians in the west save some linguistic differences. It's sort of like saying there are “ethnic” Southerners and “ethnic” Northerners in the US. These are the same people with different allegiances.

The Western part of the country worked with the Nazis and has a history of pogroms against Poles, Belorussians and other minorities. The Eastern part of the country is more wealthy and less prone to violence.

The Western part of the country is anti-communist and more nationalistic. They don't want to be part of Russia or before that, the Soviet Union. Why the cooperation with the Nazis? The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

The issue is whether Ukraine moves closer to the West and more independence or remains tethered in the Russian orbit under the former KGB agent Putin who wants to return to the days of Soviet imperialism.

Two things have to happen before the tanks roll. The Olympics have to end and there has to be some threat, real or trumped up, against the gas pipelines that bring gas to western Europe from Russia that pass through the Ukraine.

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